Zoom Audio Not Working? 12 Ways to Fix It

Quick Fix

If your Zoom audio isn’t working, try these instant fixes: Click the arrow next to the microphone icon and select the correct audio device. Make sure you’re not muted (look for the red line through the mic). If others can’t hear you, go to Settings > Audio and click “Test Mic” to verify your microphone works. These steps fix 90% of Zoom audio problems.

Understanding Zoom Audio Issues

Zoom audio problems are incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re about to join an important meeting. The issue can manifest in several ways: others can’t hear you, you can’t hear others, audio is choppy or distorted, or there’s an echo during calls.

Common causes include incorrect audio device selection, muted microphone, outdated Zoom app, Windows sound settings, browser permissions (for web client), or conflicts with other applications using your audio devices. Let’s go through each solution systematically.

Method 1: Check If You’re Muted

It sounds obvious, but being muted is the most common reason others can’t hear you.

Look at the bottom-left corner of your Zoom window
Check the microphone icon
If there’s a red line through it, you’re muted
Click the icon or press Alt + A (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + A (Mac) to unmute
Also check if the host has muted you – you’ll see “You are muted by the host”

Pro tip: Enable “Press and hold SPACE key to temporarily unmute” in Settings > Audio for quick unmuting.

Method 2: Select the Correct Audio Device

Zoom might be using the wrong microphone or speaker, especially if you have multiple audio devices.

Click the arrow (^) next to the microphone icon
Under “Select a Microphone,” choose your correct microphone
Under “Select a Speaker,” choose your correct speaker/headphones
Click “Test Speaker & Microphone” to verify
If you’re using a headset, select it for both microphone and speaker

If your device doesn’t appear, it may not be properly connected or its drivers need updating.

Method 3: Test Audio in Zoom Settings

Zoom has built-in audio testing tools to diagnose problems.

Click your profile picture in Zoom
Select Settings
Click Audio in the left sidebar
Click “Test Speaker” – you should hear a ringtone
Click “Test Mic” – speak and watch the input level bar move
Adjust the volume sliders if needed
Check “Automatically adjust microphone volume” if your volume fluctuates

Method 4: Join Audio Manually

Sometimes Zoom doesn’t automatically connect your audio when joining a meeting.

In the meeting, look at the bottom-left corner
If you see “Join Audio” instead of a microphone icon, click it
Select “Join with Computer Audio”
Check “Automatically join audio by computer when joining a meeting” to prevent this in the future

To enable auto-join: Settings > Audio > Check “Automatically join audio by computer when joining a meeting”

Method 5: Check Windows Sound Settings

Windows sound settings can override or conflict with Zoom’s audio.

Check Default Devices:

Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar
Select “Sound settings”
Under “Output,” select your speakers/headphones
Under “Input,” select your microphone
Click on your microphone and ensure the volume is up

Check App Volume:

In Sound settings, scroll down to “Advanced sound options”
Click “App volume and device preferences”
Find Zoom and ensure its volume isn’t muted or too low
Set Zoom’s input and output to your preferred devices

Method 6: Check Microphone Privacy Settings

Windows privacy settings can block apps from accessing your microphone.

Press Windows + I to open Settings
Go to Privacy & security > Microphone
Ensure “Microphone access” is turned ON
Ensure “Let apps access your microphone” is ON
Scroll down and ensure “Let desktop apps access your microphone” is ON
Zoom should be listed under apps with access

Method 7: Update Zoom to Latest Version

Outdated Zoom versions can have audio bugs that are fixed in newer releases.

Open Zoom desktop app
Click your profile picture
Select “Check for Updates”
If an update is available, click “Update”
Restart Zoom after updating

Zoom releases updates frequently with bug fixes and improvements. Keep it updated for best performance.

Method 8: Update Audio Drivers

Outdated or corrupted audio drivers can cause microphone and speaker issues.

Press Windows + X and select Device Manager
Expand “Sound, video and game controllers”
Right-click your audio device and select “Update driver”
Choose “Search automatically for drivers”
Also expand “Audio inputs and outputs”
Update your microphone driver the same way
Restart your computer after updating

Method 9: Disable Audio Enhancements

Windows audio enhancements can interfere with Zoom’s audio processing.

Right-click the speaker icon in taskbar
Select “Sound settings”
Click “More sound settings”
In the Playback tab, right-click your speakers and select “Properties”
Go to the “Advanced” tab
Uncheck “Enable audio enhancements”
Click Apply and OK
Repeat for your microphone in the Recording tab

Method 10: Close Other Apps Using Audio

Other applications might be exclusively using your audio devices.

Close other video conferencing apps (Teams, Skype, Discord, etc.)
Close music players and streaming services
Close any recording software
Close browser tabs that might be using audio
Restart Zoom after closing these apps

Some apps grab exclusive control of audio devices, blocking Zoom from accessing them.

Method 11: Reinstall Zoom

If nothing else works, a clean reinstall can fix corrupted Zoom files.

Close Zoom completely
Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl, press Enter
Find Zoom, right-click, and select Uninstall
Press Windows + R, type %appdata%, press Enter
Delete the Zoom folder if it exists
Download fresh installer from zoom.us/download
Install and test audio

Method 12: Use Phone Audio as Backup

If computer audio won’t work, you can use your phone for audio while viewing video on computer.

In the Zoom meeting, click the arrow next to the microphone
Select “Switch to Phone Audio”
Call the provided phone number
Enter the Meeting ID and Participant ID when prompted
Your phone handles audio while computer shows video

Preventing Future Audio Issues

Always test audio before important meetings (Settings > Audio > Test)
Keep Zoom updated to the latest version
Use a quality headset for better audio
Close unnecessary apps before meetings
Check your internet connection – poor connection causes choppy audio
Enable “Automatically join audio by computer” in settings

FAQ

Why can others hear me but I can’t hear them in Zoom?

This is a speaker/output issue. Click the arrow next to the microphone icon and check your speaker selection. Also verify your computer’s volume isn’t muted and check Windows sound settings to ensure Zoom is using the correct output device.

Why is my Zoom audio echoing?

Echo usually occurs when your microphone picks up sound from your speakers. Use headphones to prevent this, or lower your speaker volume. Also check if someone else in the meeting has the same issue – they might be causing the echo.

Why does my Zoom audio cut in and out?

Choppy or cutting audio is usually caused by poor internet connection. Try moving closer to your router, switching from WiFi to ethernet, closing other bandwidth-heavy apps, or lowering video quality in Zoom settings to prioritize audio.

How do I fix Zoom audio on Mac?

On Mac, go to System Preferences > Sound and verify input/output devices. Check System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Microphone and ensure Zoom has permission. In Zoom, go to Settings > Audio and select the correct devices.

Why doesn’t my Bluetooth headset work with Zoom?

Bluetooth headsets need to be selected in both Zoom settings AND Windows sound settings. In Zoom, click the audio arrow and select your Bluetooth device for both mic and speaker. Also ensure the headset is in “headset mode” not “stereo mode” for the mic to work.

How do I fix Zoom audio in browser?

When using Zoom in a browser, you need to grant microphone permission. Click the lock/info icon in the address bar and allow microphone access. Also check browser settings (chrome://settings/content/microphone) to ensure the site isn’t blocked.